Congress is bracing for a wave of performative outrage from Democrats as the midterm elections approach, according to a Federalist op-ed published this week that warns the political theater is about to reach ear-splitting volume. The piece, written with heavy sarcasm, argues that the coming weeks will be defined not by substance but by members of Congress reciting scripted anger for the cameras.
The column opens by invoking Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley’s exasperated plea during a recent Senate hearing, suggesting that ordinary Americans share his weariness. “This week, we are all Chuck Grassley in our souls,” the author writes.
The Federalist points to two episodes this week that it says exemplify the trend. The first involves Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) questioning Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. According to the op-ed, Pressley became so angry during the exchange that she exploded into a “spontaneous fury” — though the author notes she repeatedly looked down at a piece of paper, which the column claims contained her staff-written outrage. The piece describes her shouting at Bessent, demanding a yes-or-no answer and accusing him of filibustering. A video clip embedded in the article shows the exchange.
The second episode centers on Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who the Federalist says is positioning himself for a potential presidential run. During a hearing, Booker called FBI Director Kash Patel a “lackey” and clashed with Grassley, who at one point asked, “Are you ready to shut up?” Patel responded to Booker by saying, “You are the biggest mockery in the United States Senate.” The Federalist frames Booker’s indignation as a calculated effort to generate dramatic clips, noting that he is up for re-election this year and eyeing the presidential primary season that “opens three seconds after the midterms end.”
The op-ed takes particular aim at Booker’s facial expressions, claiming he makes his eyes bulge when he wants to appear passionate — a look the author compares to Marty Feldman. It also mentions that Booker is up for re-election in what it calls a safe seat, but argues he is more focused on a future presidential bid. “Yes, Cory Booker thinks he has a shot at the presidency,” the author writes. “No, it’s not rude to laugh out loud at the thought.”
The column broadens its critique to other Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Ilhan Omar, warning that their approach to artificial intelligence regulation will be undermined by what it calls a “clown show.” It also references Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s questioning of a Supreme Court nominee about fart jokes in his high school yearbook, describing such behavior as disqualifying for serious debates. “Elected toddlers like this have as much chance of successfully regulating AI in a hurry as an unassisted squirrel has of performing a high-quality MRI on your injured shoulder,” the author writes.
The Federalist’s core argument is that none of the coming theatrics will produce meaningful legislation. The piece predicts that Congress will make noise with “growing urgency and vigor” until voters — and what it calls “harvested ballots” — have spoken, but insists the tone will sound important while the substance remains hollow. It advises readers to take social media breaks, spend evenings by a lake or river, and treat the spectacle with the seriousness it deserves — which, in the author’s view, is none at all.
The op-ed is framed as a preview of the political atmosphere leading up to early November, when the midterm elections will take place. It suggests that the volume dial is “about to be set to eleven” and that scenery will be chewed. The author’s frustration is palpable, but the piece is also a deliberate provocation, aimed at readers who share a disdain for congressional grandstanding.
While the Federalist’s tone is mocking, it touches on a broader frustration that has long existed among voters of all stripes: the perception that Congress often prioritizes performance over progress. Whether the coming weeks will prove the author right remains to be seen, but the column leaves little doubt about where it stands. As the piece concludes, “Treat the spectacle with the seriousness it deserves.”
Source: thefederalist.com — https://thefederalist.com/2026/09/16/congress-always-sucks-but-the-histrionics-are-about-to-explode-like-a-high-school-theater-festival/